“As an African American woman it is not lost on me that people of color and women experience homelessness at far greater levels than others in our society,” Harris said in a prepared statement. “I’ve worked my whole career helping people rise out of homelessness, and this opportunity to lead a committee to study and to enact change makes me very proud.”

The committee will issue a report on the city’s homelessness challenges by November, according to resolution approved by the council Thursday evening.

Council President David Salvatore said city leaders have a “moral obligation” to help the homeless.